Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people's hearts, and they will learn the truth. 2nd Timothy 2:25 ♥ Let Jesus speak gently to your heart

Anger – It’s a habit as bad as smoking.

I used to smoke, a lot. I started at the tender age of 14. My mother smoked and back in the day it was thought to make you look cool, and older. I was a terribly rebelious teen so smoking seemed like a grand idea. A good way for me to look cool and rebel parental authority all at the same time. Everyone knows a teenager of 14 wants more than almost anything else to appear more grown up, so smoking helped me with that too. At least in my mind, if not in reality. In reality, I’m sure I just looked foolish and silly, if not stupid.

Over the years I deeply regretted having started smoking. They cost a ton, they stink, they make you stink, and they make you sick. Even so, I still loved smoking – so I was in a mess. I knew they were making me sick, yet I loved them. I knew I had to go to the Lord and request His help in wanting to quit smoking first. Without the desire to quit, nothing I did would make any difference. Sounds silly to want to quit, yet not, but that was me. My desire to smoke was just larger than my desire to quit.

I began asking God to please give me the desire to quit the nasty habit and then I picked a date. I chose to simply give the whole mess over to the Lord and let Him deal with it. After all, I knew He’d want me to quit and He tells us to ask and He’ll give us our heart’s desires. (Psalm 37:3-5)

The date I set was November 1 of 2007. I told everyone I knew that I was going to quit (not one single person believed me either – that’s how much I LOVED smoking at that time of my life – sadly) and that the Lord would help me accomplish it. I knew He’d help. I just KNEW it, deep down in my heart. I didn’t know if He’d make it easy for me, or if He’d just hold my hand and walk me through the process, but I just knew He’d stay with me the whole time. I was prepared for it to go either way and simply told any and everyone that would listen that I was going to quit on that day and that was that.

And I did. I was blessed by my complete and total belief in Him and His promises, and He made it much easier than I’d ever dreamt of. I’ve been extremely thankful ever since. Thankful enough to know that I can never pick up even one and smoke it…. ever.

Now, it seems like I’m going to have to go to Him again and get His powerful help with another apparent addictiion – anger. Seems kinda out there to call anger an addiction, but I honestly feel that it fits. Anger is like a drug, like nicotine.

Now, don’t get me wrong… I’m not running around punching people or anything, but still… I know that anger (and pride) are some serious issues that I need to be delivered from. I hate the way it makes me feel. It’s so hard to let it go while in the midst of whatever issue has upset me. I don’t like that feeling. I’d much rather be more humble and less concerned about myself.

I had a work issue come up recently and, at first, couldn’t wait to tell one of my close co-workers all about it. But then I got to thinking that no… I shouldn’t talk about it and fuel that fire. I felt like I needed to just give it to God instead. So, I decided to not speak about the issue the next day when I’d see this co-worker. However, she brings up an issue closely related to the one I was upset over and even though there was a part of me screaming out, “Be quiet!!!! DO NOT go there and complain or gripe or whatever you wanna call it! Just don’t!” Sadly, I found myself doing it anyway…. Ugh! I hated that! I felt just like I had in all the many times I’d tried to quit smoking in the past when I was trying to do it all by myself. There was the whole argument going on inside of me of “Tell her! No! Don’t, it won’t help anything and will only get her upset too! Tell her! No! Don’t…. ” I felt like I’d failed myself, but mostly like I’d failed my Lord and Savior.

The experience has reminded me though that, just like when I prayed for His help to desire to quit smoking, I first need to go to the Lord and ask Him to give me more of a desire to let go of silly annoyances and the effect that they can have on me, more of a desire to see His will done, rather than my own. To be more concerned with loving His people, than what’s “fair” in my own eyes and understanding. I need His help in desiring to lay down my hurt and pains at His feet, rather than seeking a way to make myself feel better through “making people pay” in any shape form or fashion. After all, God tells us that vengeance is His.

There are times when anger is appropriate, but often times, our actions when angry aren’t. I need Christ’s help in knowing what’s what and in choosing appropriate reactions. The Bible tells us in Matthew 5:22 (the words of Jesus) But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell.” In Romans 12:14-19 We’re told, Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all! Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the Lord.

It’s not nearly as hard once the force of the feelings of the anger have calmed down some. Once that’s happened, then I’m able to pray for those that have hurt me or angered me. It’s during that “heat of the moment” that I’m having trouble with. But I know that I know that I know that I can take this problem to Jesus and lay it at His feet and He’ll give me a strong enough desire to get past my “feelings” no matter how strong they may be at the time. I KNOW I can trust in Him. Please, won’t you also pray with me on this? If this is an issue for you, please feel free to comment and we’ll pray for you too! Or if you need help with quitting smoking, please feel free to comment and request prayers for help with that too! With Jesus, we can all quit smoking and giving in to anger!